In a Baltimore Sun story from yesterday, it was announced that Janet Marie Smith would again be joining the O’s organization.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-smith0909,0,1408430.story
She will have the title of VP of Planning and Development, and be charged with the renovation of the Spring Training facility in Sarasota, and improving Camden Yards.
This is an interesting development, and the O’s organization deserves credit for bringing her back into the fold.
Ms. Smith has been part of the Struever Brothers bid for the New Baltimore Arena. It is unclear to me at this time, if she will now definitively not be part of that bid.
It is my opinion that nobody in Baltimore deserves more adulation than Ms. Smith. Without her vision, Camden Yards could have easily been a ‘New Comiskey’ cookie-cutter stadium built in Lansdowne.
If that had happened, it is hard to envision what Baltimore would be like today. I think it is safe to assume that all of the development we have seen in the Inner Harbor, Canton, Federal Hill, Harbor East etc. etc. would not have occurred. I think you could also make the argument that the Ravens would not exist.
Beyond having the vision to build down-town (which changed cities across the country), Ms. Smith also had the vision to refurbish the Warehouse, instead of tearing it down.
I have to give personal thanks for that decision, as I was Married in the Warehouse.
Again, can you imagine Baltimore without the Warehouse?
I am ecstatic that she has rejoined the O’s, and I hope she can continue to work with Struever Brothers on their Arena bid.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.